Thomas Dougherty was clerk of the House of Representatives in 1815. Among native Kentuckians who served in Congress from other states were James B. Foley from Indiana, 1857–’59; Willis A. Gorman from the same state, 1849–’53, and also a major-general in the Civil War; Edward A. Hannegan from the same state, in 1855–’57; and Cornelius L. L. Leary from Maryland.
Among the noted military men of the Irish stock were Generals John Boyle, Adair, Croghan and Commander Prendergast.
Among Kentucky poets were Dr. John M. Harney, brother to Gen. W. S. Harney, Theodore O’Hara, Gen. W. O. Butler, W. D. Gallagher, Noble Butler and William M. Harney. Among legislators and educators, in addition to those already named, were McNamara, Hogan, Kane O’Hara, “the great educator” and father of Colonel Theodore, the poet; Judge James O’Hara, brother to Kane, and Major James O’Hara, son of the Judge. John McGill, James McGinty, Cassidy, O’Bamon, Kennan and Finley were also honored names in the “dark and bloody ground.”
Michael Cassidy, born in Ireland and a soldier of the Revolution, went to Kentucky in 1782. He was small in stature, being barely five feet in height, but he made up in courage what he lacked in size, and was, in addition, as tough and wiry as a hickory sapling. He was considered one of the most noted Indian fighters in his day, and many anecdotes have been printed about him.
Dr. John M. Harney, mentioned elsewhere, went to Kentucky from Delaware. He was born in 1789. He was the son of Major Thomas Harney. Major Benjamin F. Harney was an elder brother. In 1847 he was the senior surgeon in the United States army. A younger brother was Major-General W. S. Harney, who distinguished himself in the Florida and Mexican War. He was prominent for a while at the outbreak of the Civil War, being in command at St. Louis until relieved by General Fremont.
Dr. John M. Harney married the daughter of another Celt, the celebrated John Rowan, in his day one of the best known and respected men in Kentucky. In his latter years Dr. Harney returned to the faith of his fathers, dying in the Catholic fold at Bardstown, the original seat of Catholicity in Kentucky, on January 15, 1825. Gen. John Adair, for whom the county of that name was called, was born in South Carolina in 1757. He served in the Revolutionary War. He was one of Kentucky’s pioneers and first citizens. His name denotes his origin.
Daniel Boone, it is said, was a descendant of one of the original Catholic settlers of Maryland. Let that be as it may, some of the name are still found in Maryland, who cling to the old faith. His is the greatest name among the early pioneers of the state. Boyle county was named for the Hon. John Boyle, for many years chief justice of Kentucky, who was a native of Virginia. Butler county received its name from Major-General Richard Butler of Pennsylvania, who fought through the Revolutionary War and was killed in St. Clair’s disastrous defeat, November 4, 1791.
Few of the prominent families, not only of Kentucky but of any state in the Union, have been so distinguished in many ways as this of General Butler. The emigrant ancestor was Thomas Butler, born in Kilkenny, Ireland, April 8, 1720. Five of his sons attained eminence in America. Of these, Richard, William and Thomas were, like their father, natives of Ireland. Percival and Edward were born in Pennsylvania. All were officers in the Revolutionary War. Edward was too young at first, but entered it before its close. Richard was the second in command of Morgan’s rifle regiment. He was afterwards its colonel and commanded Wayne’s left in the attack on Stony Point. All these brothers and their immediate descendants were engaged in the military service of their country, in all the wars before 1800; while their survivors were in the war of 1812, and not less than nine of a younger generation were in the Mexican War.
Gen. Percival Butler migrated to Kentucky in 1784. His son, Col. Thomas L. Butler, was aide to General Jackson in the battle of New Orleans. A second son, Gen. Wm. O. Butler, also served in the war of 1812, received the commendations of General Jackson for bravery at New Orleans, was afterwards appointed on Jackson’s staff and was a major-general in the Mexican War. The third son, Richard P. Butler, was assistant adjutant-general in the campaign of 1812.
Campbell county takes its name from Col. John Campbell, a native of Ireland. He received a grant of four thousand acres of land, located near Louisville, and during life was one of Kentucky’s noted men. Carroll county takes its name from Charles Carroll, of Carrollton.